Enjoy the process, but get out of the way

"Enjoy the process, but get out of the way. The budget is not the aesthetic. Never put in your own money. Ok, sometimes it has to be your own money. (Money is overrated) Identify talent and stick to it like glue. Every little picture needs a big picture. In the big picture, we need little pictures. Less money = more control; more money = less control. Find the intersection of an investor's courage and cash. Do what you love; do it consistently. Everything else will follow. Every story behind a movie that gets made is a success story. This is the best job in the world." - Christine Vachon, movie producer, Boys Don't Cry, Far from Heaven, I Shot Andy Warhol.

After watching Waiting for Superman I wanted to cry. Then I was angry. Above is a quote that sums up my filmmaking experience. I have been blessed to meet some of the wisest people while working in the film industry. I have heard people say its a job for dummer people. Sure there are dumb people in any industry, but the successful filmmakers, the ones making those brilliant movies are not only smart storytellers, they are sage like people, revealing another perspective to us.

The reason I was angry, sad, frustrated is because this career I am in now is education. It is a wonderful combination of making films, teaching, guiding and helping people, but ultimately it is about the system. The system is not smart, the system is tyrannical, ignorant and slow to change. It is a quagmire where I fear my own child will get stuck. And that really is the thing. Fear. I don't want to be afraid of the future of education. I want to be part of the solution...so what tools do I have to offer for that change to happen?